Sales of the Nokia N-Gage game deck will start across several continents in over 60 countries, offering gamers both blockbuster game titles, as well as true game classics. The 7th October marks the first global mobile connected game platform launch in the history of the games industry. Perhaps except in New Zealand, where I was told by Nokia sources that N-Gage will not be available until 2004.

"There's going to be a lot of tired thumbs tonight!" said Ilkka Raiskinen, Senior Vice President, Entertainment and Media, Nokia Mobile Phones. "After months of anticipation and excitement, you can now walk into a store and begin playing games against anyone, anywhere. The Nokia N-Gage game deck opens up an amazing new mobile gaming experience to people around the world."

Gamers will also be able to start taking advantage of the N-Gage Arena, the virtual home of the worldwide gamer community to share experiences and find other players for mobile online fun. The ability to play, share and compete over the air makes the N-Gage Arena unique in the game industry. N-Gage Arena services are initially offered free of charge to consumers for a trial period, although data traffic fees are payable according to operator tariffs.

New titles coming in time for the holiday season will include such bestsellers as NCAA Football 2004, Red Faction, a special N-Gage version of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, and more. Nokia N-Gage game deck devices and game titles will be available in over 30 000 major retail outlets, game-specific and video game retail outlets, as well as in regular mobile phone delivery channels in all major markets.